Apparatus for the manufacture of sulfuric anhydrid.



No. 719,333. l PATBNTED JAN. 2?,.1903. J. B. F. HERRESHOPF. APPARATUS POR THE MANUPAGTURE 0F SULFURIG ANHYDRII).l

` APLIoATIoN rI'Lnn qu. 1o, 1902.l No Mexm..

INVENTOR j@ mi/6M j BY v ATTORNEYS Nrrnp STATES" JOHN R. FRANOISHERRESHOF, .OF BROOKLYN, Naw YORK.

APPARATUS ron THE MANOFAOTUREOF surreale AMI-Noam.

SPECIFIGATIQN forming part of Letterslatent No. 719,333, dated `January 27, 1903.

Application iiledfannary' 10, 1902.-. Serial No. 89.096. (No modell) f To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN BROWN FRANoIs HERRESHOFF, a citizen of the United States,

and a resident of the city'of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kingsand State of New York, have invented-a new and Improved Apparatus for the Manufacture of Sulfuric Anhydrid, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for the.

manufacture of sulfuric anhydrid according to the so-called contact process, and has for its object to provide an apparatus of this class which will permit of a ready regulation of the temperature, so as to obtain a higheiciency, and to keep the heat within relativelyy lowr gures, so that the durability of the-plant will be materially increased.

To-this end I employ7 an apparatus compris' ing a plurality of contact-chambers and 'con-E nections by means. of which incoming gas is caused to pass through'said chambers insuccession,and I provide in addition-in the connection from one contact-chambertothe next aheat-exchange apparatus by means of which' the heat of the outgoing mixture is absorbedA by the incoming mixture, so that I-obtain'at the same time a heating of the unconverted mixture and a cooling of -the partially-converted mixture, thus bringing both to the temperature which is best adapted for the.

I drawing, which is an elevation of a portion of a sulfuric-acid plant with parts in section. A is the main pipe, through which the cool or previously-heated,Y mixture of sulfurOus-i acid gas and air is supplied to this portion of the plant. l

A is a connection controlled by a valve B and leading from the supply-pipe `A to a heat,- exchange apparatus C. This apparatus may be of any suitable construction,and,as shown, it comprises a casing with partitions C', dividing it into a cent-ral chamber' and two end chambers. The latter are rconnected by tubes C2. From the outlet end of the casing C a pipe vA2 leads back tothe supply-pipe A, a

valve B being interposed between two points at which the connection A and the pipe A2 are joined to the pipe A.. At a farther point of the supply-piprA is located a heat-exchange apparatus c, having partitions c and connecting-tubes c2 and adapted to communicate with' the supply-pipe'A by a connection'a.' and an outlet-pipe a2, these 'being arl ranged correspondingly to the parts A' A2. Valves b b arehere provided in the same relation asthe valves B B'. The end of the pipe A is connected with a contact-chamber D, which may be of any suitable construcvtion anldwhich may be much shorter than the contact-'chambers usually employed. This contact-chamber may also dier from the usual ones by employing increasingly-richer contact material from the inlet -'foward the vfutlet, so that the Vcomparatively rich incoming gas mixture will rst meet layers of asbestos `or other carrier containing only a rela-V more gradual reaction and keep the temperature of the gas at the outlet relatively low.' I 'desire it to be clearly understood, however, 1

that the usual arrangement of uniformly-distributed contact material may be employed,.,

as the main advantages of my invention result from the partial completion of the reac.

tion in one chamber and its continuation inv another contact-chamber after intermediate cooling.

E is a pipe which connects the outlet of the contact-chamber D with the central chamber of the heat-exchange apparatus o. yFrom this central chamber a pipe F leads, to another contact-chamber d, the outlet-pipe eof 'which is connected with the central chamber of the heat-exchangefapparatus C; From this chamber leads an outlet-pipe G, con-- uected with any suitable apparatus at which the sulfuric anhyd'rid is stored or utilized or with another contact-chamber, 'it being understood that the plant may comprise three, four, or more sets of ycontact-chamloers and heat-exchange apparatuses connected Withl each other in the same manner as the apparatuses c, d, and C in the drawing.

In the normal operation of the apparatus the Valves B b may be closed at first, while the valves B b are open. This will cause the incoming gas mixture to first entervthe lhea-texchange apparatus C, then pass through the central portion of the supply-pipe A, then through the heat-exchange apparatus c, and finally to the first contact-chamber D. The partiallyconverted mixture flows through the pipe E, the central chamber of the heatexchange apparatus c, and the pipe F to the second contact-chamber D, where the reaction is continued, so as to colnplete the con-A version into sulfuric auhydrid or at least bring the conversion nearer completion. The gas then passes through the pipe e andthe central chamber of the heat-exchange apparatus C to the outlet-pipe G. It Will beseen that the incoming gas comes into'heat-exchange relation with the outgoing partially or entirely converted product twice in succession -and that it first is heated by the prod- 'uct which is nearestcompletion and then by the product which is not so'completely converted. Thus at the time the incoming gas reaches the contact-chamber D said gas is heated to the proper temperature for the beginning of the reaction. In some cases the heating effect-of the two apparatuses C'and c might be too energetic, and in such cases a reduction of this elect may readily be obtained by causing a portion of the'incoming mixture to pass only through one of the heat-A exchange apparatuses instead of through both of them or even to pass directly to the,

contact-chamber D. `This will be readily obtained by a proper manipulation of the valves B B bb. Thus if in addition to the Valves B b the'valve B' also is opened a portion of the incoming mixture will iiow di.-

rectly tothe heat-exchange apparatus c Without passing through the heat-exchange apparatus C. The proportion can. be varied by opening the valve B more or less or by a corresponding manipulation of `the valves B b. If in'addition to this the valve b is also opened, a certain portion-of ythe incoming mixture -will pass directly to the contactchamber D, thus further reducing the temperature of the mixture at the inlet of said chamber. Thermometers located at suitable points of the pipe A will enable the attendant to properly adj ustl` the several valves.

The temperature of the partially-converted mixture passing through the pipe E is of course higher than that at the inlet, and a cooling is required to bring the temperature down to that best adapted forthe beginning, or rather continuation, of the contact react-iou iu the second vchamber d. This is efiected inv the apparatus shown by the absorption of heat from the partially convert-edv mixture through the medium of the incoming gas which passesthrough the heat-exchange apparatus c. The cooled partially-converted mix'tnre'is then again subjected to the contact process in the second chamber d, and the product which leaves this chamber is fully converted, or at least more nearly so than that leaving the rst contact-chamber D. If a further repetition of the process is required, the outgoing gas mixture is again cooled and led into another' contact-chamber.

Inasmuch as when using myapparatus the bers, the apparatushas a 'much longer life The avoidance of very high temperatures also insures a more perfect result, in that likely to .take place. The exchange of heat the reason that the dilerenceof temperatures between the absorbing medium and the .me- Jdium from which heat is -abstracted is much smaller than hitherto in processes of this character. Another advantage of the-use of a plurality of contact-chambers is that repairs readily eected without necessitating a complete stoppage of the process.` This is particularly the case when three or more contact-` chambers are employed. To enable one of the contactchambers to be cut out, I provide suitable connectionssuch as, for instance, a pipe A2, leading from the supply-pipe A to the conveying-pipe F--and I provide valves in the pipe F between the connection A2 and the heat-exchange apparatus c. By closing supply-pipe @directly to the second contactchamber d, so that repairs maybe made to the first contact-chamber D or to the heat-exchange apparatus c without disturbing the operation. f

. I claim'as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- `l. In anvapparatus for manufacturing'sulfurie anhydrid by catalytic action as set forth, the combination of a plurality of separate lthe inlet of the next, said connection having only inlet and outlet terminal openings, to

plied to thesaid connection. A

2. In an apparatus for the manufacture-of sulfuric anhydrid by catalytic action as set forth, the combination of a plurality of sepa- 4rate chambers containing catalyticmaterial, a connection from the outletof one chamber to the inlet of the next', and a double-path heat-exchange apparatus, separate from Said chambers, and havingone of its paths intertemperatures remain considerably below those which occur in the usual co'ntact-chamor absorption of heat lis also more perfect, for

the valves b f and opening the valve f the gas mixturefmay be caused to pass from the v chambers containing catalytic material, av connection from the outlet of one chamber to prevent admixture of other iuids, -and a cooler separate from thesaid chambers, ap-

posed in said connection, and a connection and its efficiency is considerably increased.

dissociation of the sulfuric anhydrid is less to individual parts of the apparatus may be roo 'ff,'one in the connection A2 and thel other IIO www,

bie s..

". In an apparatus for the manufacture of sulfuric anhydrid by 'catalytic action as set forth, the combination of a plurality of contact-chambers, a supply-pipe for conveying the incoming gas to the apparatus, a pipe connectin g the outlet of one contact-chamber with the inlet of the next, and a heat-exchange apparatus havingtwo separate paths or channels, one of which is interposed in said connection whilel the other is connected respectively with the inlet of the first 'contact-chamber and with the supply-pipe.

4. In an apparatus for the manufacture of sulfuric anhydrid by catalytic action asset forth, the combination of a plurality of contact-chambers, a connection leading from the outlet of one chamber tothe inlet of the next,

a heat-exchange apparatus located in said connection, a supply-pipe connected lwith the inlet of the first contact-chamber and also connected with said heat-exchange apparatus, andI mechanism for controlling the iiow of the gas from .said supply-pipe directly to the contact-chamber and to the heat-exchange apparatus. r

5.V In an apparatus for the manufacture ,ofl

sulfuric anhydrid by catalytic action as set forth, the combination of a plurality of contact-chambers, a connection leading from the outlet of one chamber to the inlet ofthe next,

rate paths one of which is interposed in said connection, a supply-pipe having a'connection to the inlet of the rst contact-chamber and/two connections to the-other path of the heat-exchange apparatus, and valves controlling respectively the connection from the supply-pipe to the heat-exchange apparatus and the direct connection from said supply-pipe Ato the contact-chamber.

` 6. In an apparatus'for the manufactureof sulfuric anhydrid byfcatalytic action as set forth, the combination of a, plurality of contact-chambers and a plurality 4of heat-exchanging apparatuses, each of? latter having two separate paths or channels, a connection from the outlet-of one contact-chamber to so' one path of the adjacent heat-exchange apparatus,fan outlet connection from thesame path of said heat-exchange apparatus yto the inlet of the next contact-chamber, 'ajsupp'lyy pipe having a valved connection with the l other path of each heat-exchange apparatus,

an additional connection with such path of each heat-exchange apparatus, and afurther connection with the inlet of the first contactchamber, and valves interposed in the supply- `6o pipe between its two connections with the same heat-exchange apparatus.

7. In an apparatus for the manufacture of sulfuric anhydrid by catalytic action as set forth, the combination of a plurality of contact-chambers and a plurality of heat-exchange apparatuses, each of the latter having two separate paths or channels, asu'pply-pipe connected with one path of one of the heatexchange apparatuses, a connection from the 7o same path of said apparatus to the like path of the next heat-exchange apparatus, a connection from the inlet of the first contactchamber to the said path of the adjacent heat-exchange'apparatus, a connection from 75 the outlet of said contact-chamber to the other path of the adjacent heat-exchange apparatus, another connection from said other path to the inlet of the next contact-chamber, and a connection from thev outlet of said 8o next contact-chamber to the second path of`X the heat-exchange apparatus, the first-mentwo subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN v B. rRANcs 'nnnnnsliorn Witnesses: l

JOHN LoTKA, f EUGENE EBLE. 

